Gators in the NBA: Finney-Smith records first double-double as a pro

Dallas Mavericks' Dorian Finney-Smith (10) drives past Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

The 2017-18 NBA season has been a season of teams in contention, teams openly tanking and teams wanting LeBron join their team, but Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith is still playing hard. The second-year undrafted player out of Florida made Dallas’ roster in 2016 due to his versatility, length and his 3-point shooting. He puts in most of his defensive work against shooting guards and wings but can also hang tough against point guards and power forwards. On offense, Finney-Smith can shoot from the outside and has the ability to create mismatches against smaller wing players. He finally put it all together Friday night in Detroit as he scored 15 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished four assists as the Mavs fell in overtime to the Pistons 113-106.

Around the NBA, Bradley Beal and the Wizards have been blown out in three of their last four games and seem to be destined for the eighth seed in the east. That means facing the top-seeded Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and forward Corey Brewer clinched a playoff spot with their wins over Houston and Miami this week. Brewer scored six points, swiped four steals and grabbed four rebounds for OKC in their playoff-clinching win over the Heat Monday and had 10 points, six rebounds and five steals in OKC’s loss to Golden State last Tuesday.
Celtics center Al Horford has come out and admitted the playoffs will be more difficult without their leader Kyrie Irving in the lineup, but added that he and the Celtics will find a way to do it without him. Horford has had to fill in and play many roles this season with Boston being severely plagued by injuries, starting with its free-agent signee Gordon Hayward breaking his leg in the first quarter of the first game this season. His roles have included his traditional one as veteran leader and center, but apparently he also likes to make his teammates laugh, even while playing in a live game.

Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons was ruled out in every game this week and was officially ruled out for the remainder of the season on Friday. Parsons has played in a total of 70 games the past two seasons and played less than 20 minutes per contest. If he wants to get back to the player he once was, he has to make getting healthy his number one priority.
Magic forward Marreese Speights saw his first action since March 22 on Friday as he put up 14 points, three rebounds and three assists for Orlando in a 137-100 loss to Charlotte.